Saturday, November 3, 2007

It's day three of NaBloPoMo and I'm blogging instead of going to the gym...this does not bode well.

Hasn't everyone seen Dave? It's on cable all the time, and it's one of those movies that I stop and watch every time I come across it, even though I've seen it so many times before. Recently, I netflixed it on purpose and really payed attention; I didn't leave it on as background noise but studied it as the main event. And it is just as wonderful as ever.

The movie starts with the beautiful and idyllic sights of DC -- the Jefferson memorial, the White House, rowers on the Potomac in the early dawn light. Is this what visitors think of when they think of my city? Probably, though it gets so much more interesting in other places.

A couple of plot twists later, and small-town, good-hearted Dave Kovic is playing at being the president. And wouldn't you know it, but he's great at it! He balances budgets and saves homeless children! He plays with his dogs on the south lawn of the White House! He promises a job to every American! Is there room in the primaries for this guy?

Along the way, he falls in love with the real first lady. They sneak out one night to picnic on an imaginary hill that overlooks the whole city. Dave claims that they're the best sandwiches in the city...are they the special from Gandel's? If so, he may be right.

Dave is silly and heartwarming and damn near impossible not to love. As the weather gets cooler and we start tucking into out heated apartments with a bowl of soup, throw this movie into the dvd player -- or chances are it will be on cable. You will giggle and smile and maybe long for a different kind of leadership in the White House.